Abortion debate: The conflict of ‘rights’
SLU Students for Life
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The pro-life movement is exactly what it states, a peaceful movement which promotes the sanctity and respect for life. It is not only about abortion. A true pro-lifer is one who protects life at all stages. The focus of the movement is generally abortion for two reasons. Primarily, unborn babies are sparsely protected in the law. And secondly, in an effort to focus the efforts of the movement to an attainable goal.
The pro-life movement (with respect to legalized abortion) began in 1973 after the Roe v. Wade decision. In what was the most recognized court decision in United States history, the ruling to approve the legality of abortion was influenced by falsified information and emotional appeal. Dr. Bernard Nathanson, owner of America’s largest abortion clinic, publicly falsified information about abortion at the time of the trial. He provided much-exaggerated statistics on the large number of “back –alley” abortions. These abortions were performed in unsanitary conditions outside of a doctor’s office. He claimed that legalizing abortion would rid America of these unsafe operations. In his own book, Aborting America, he has since then said that “I confess that I knew the figures were totally false ... It was a useful figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest statistics? The overriding concern was to get the laws eliminated, and anything with in reason had to be done and was permissible.” The pro-life movement continued to grow.
Unfortunately, as with any movement, there are some misnomers. Some accuse pro-lifers of using violence to promote their cause. As we found out on Sept. 11, there are extremists within any organization, however they are not representative of the whole. For the same reason that the U.S. cannot blame Muslims for the World Trade Center attacks, citizens cannot blame the pro-life movement for extremist actions such as abortion-clinic violence. People who believe that taking life subsequently preserves life are anti-abortion extremists, not pro-life.
Saint Louis University Students for Life, along with every other true pro-life organization promotes the life of all human beings including the doctors and mothers who are involved in abortion. It is the inherent responsibility to support all life. For this reason you will find SFL at every execution vigil, hosting meetings on the issues of suicide and euthanasia and working in the community to make it one which promotes all life.
The state of the pro-life movement is now changing. The National Right to Life Organization is nearly two-thirds female (Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Life Arguments) despite accusations that pro-lifers are all men. Abortion is not a male-female issue. It is an issue which effects all humankind.
The current Supreme Court along with the President of the United States are beginning to question the legitimacy of abortion and limit funding. The March for Life in Washington D.C. continues to be one of the largest peaceful demonstrations in the country.
As with the pro-life movement, the pro-choice movement is now changing too. Formerly pro-choice Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade and Dr. Bernard Nathanson have both converted to pro-life. The numbers of abortions have far exceeded any expectations. Even two of the most critical people of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize abortion, have noticed that the reasons it was legalized in 1973 are not the reasons they are being performed current day.
With that left stated, the issue comes down to rights. Freedom and rights are sought by all. Both those pro-life and pro-choice will agree that rights are something to be pursued and protected. Pro-choicers continue to quote the law in stating that it is women’s right to have an abortion, and that no one can infringe on this right. However, they fail to notice that stated in the Declaration of Independence itself, the words for which our country grew upon, we “are endowed by our creator [not other humans] with certain inalienable rights that among these are LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Legally, morally and undeniably, life is the most fundamental right.
SLU Students for Life meets weekly on Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Busch Memorial Center Room 201.